CWU Mock Trial team raises the bar at Oregon invitational

The Central Washington University Mock Trial Team gives its members, the majority of whom are Law and Justice majors, the opportunity to explore courtroom scenarios in a competitive setting.

In late September, at the prestigious 11th annual Frohnmayer invitational hosted by the University of Oregon, the team collectively set a new record with their results, winning five of the eight cases before them against some of the best teams in the Pacific Northwest, including Oregon State University, Reed College, and the University of Portland.

Mock Trial Team President Rachel Andrzejewski said the result goes to show just how competitive this group of Wildcats can be in the courtroom.

“Our performance at the University of Oregon was outstanding, and has set the bar for the remainder of the season,” she said. “Not only did we finish a program-best fourth at this tournament, but we were able to prove to ourselves and our teammates that all the hard work we put in during the offseason was worth it. We also showed that we can indeed take the fight to the big-name mock trial programs in the Pacific Northwest.”

In addition to the great overall result, two team members, sophomores Dana Culley and Maddie Kalde, won outstanding witness awards for their performances on the bench. Culley sees the experience as an important stepping stone on her path to a career in law and justice.

“I'm so grateful that I had the opportunity to travel with such a hardworking, passionate, caring group of people,” she said. “I can't wait to learn more and see our team flourish throughout the season.”